.243 Winchester ultra rifle

[emsemt911]

WHat is the accuracy out of the box for this gun?

I have put a box and a half through the gun.  It is shooting 1.25 inch groups at 50 yds. 
I hace let it cool and keep it clean after 5 shots.  I just do not know what to think, except
that the scope may be bad form Nikon.  This is my first H&R to buy, and I am not pleased at this time.



Thanks 

[cajun]

I have a 243 Ultra that shoots .5 groups at 100 yards (if I'm having a good day).  I have a Nikon Monarch scope on mine.  I find that mine needs a few shots through a clean barrel to shoot really well.  I do handload and had to work to find a good load that the gun likes.  I am shooting 100 grain Hornady lead.

Good Luck!

[emsemt911]

I am shooting Hornady 95 gr SST.  I believe that the Nikon may be acting up.  I had it on another gun, and could never really zero in the slugs out of a 20 ga.  I can not imagine a rifle shooting that poorly at 50 yds, UNLESS the optics have a problem. 

Cajun, your input is greatly appreciated.  That is what I needed to hear.  It helped me to make up my mind to send the scope off to Nikon. 

[trotterlg]

If you do some research you will probably find that the .243 is the most complained about chambering in the H&R line.  For what ever reason, they just seem to have problems shooting.  You will find those who have ones that shoot, but I would not hold my breath thinking that yours will, or that you will find the magic fix for it's problems.  If you don't find a simple fix, save your self a lot of pain and suffering, dump it and move on.  Larry

[cajun]

I thought that the 243's with the major problems were those with the superlight barrel.  The Ultra has a 24" bull barrel.  Mine shot okay out of the box with factory ammo but shoots great with my handloads.

Thanks,

John

[stimpylu32]

cajun

The SL barrels are the problem child of the 243 line , most take a lot of work to shoot well , as for the others they are generally good shooters , the problem with the SL is the thin barrel profile , it is very heat sensitive and will scatter shots if allowed to over heat .

I put over 300 rounds through mine before finding a few loads that shot well , very well in fact .

emsent911

The Handi will need a few rounds down range to get broke in , this will fix 2 things , 1 it will help smooth out the rough as a cob barrel ( sorry but its true ) and 2 it will let you get used to the proper lock up , being a break open rifle it takes a diffrent approach to shoot as compaired to a bolt gun .

stimpy

[chip-don]

i can't tell you that the scope is not bad but you need a lor more shells down the barrel before being able to know how good it is . try some J-B bore bright 

[243handigun]

                          I also have a 243 ultra that is certianly no tack driver 1'' groups at 50 yds and 1 1/2 groups at 100 yds not very impressive to me i have shot 125-150 rounds through the barrell tried the o-ring trick even doubled it up and tried two, H&R said it should shoot at worst a 2'' group at 100 yds and if it didn't i needed to send it back if i would have known that i would have never bought one

[volksdriver]

I can relate to the initial frustration..... I was having problems getting tight groups, much like some of the comments above. I put a fair amount of factory ammunition through it (probably in the area of 160-200 rounds) then decided to get into reloading. Worked a number of recipes but have found these 2 to be the best for me and the rifle at 100 yds.....
....87g Hornady SP w/ 41g W760 seated to 2.70" COL
....80g Nosler BT w/ 44g W760 again seated @ 2.70" COL

The Hornadys are shooting 3 shot groups around 0.65" to 0.75" ..... the Noslers are around 0.70"

Now have to work up an accurate recipe for a heavier bullet, but I am only "sport shooting" so am not concerned with a load to drop deer, etc. Have a Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 scope on it.....

here is one of the better groups with the Hornadys......

[emsemt911]

I sent my Nikon prostaff off, but I have a bushnel  Trophy that I will mount on the gun to see how it does. 
If is still shoots bad, i will contact H&R.

[emsemt911]

Nikon found a problem with the scope.  They are describing it as Major repairs covered under warrantee.

[volksdriver]

  Hope that has your problem fixed! Did you try the rifle with the Bushnell scope?

[emsemt911]

I plan on it in the next week or two. I have been doing massive amounts of overtime to pay for a deer hunt in south Tx that I plan on bringin my oldest son on.  He will be seven and it will be his first deer hunt.  He already has a ram at 75 yds with an ar15.
 

[volksdriver]

Congrats to your son.... and good for you for getting him involved in the deer hunt! Let us know how that rifle shoots when you get back to it....

[emsemt911]

I will be going to the range with the new Bushnell scope Thursday, the 21st.  I should post results then.

[emsemt911]

I went to the range today with the new scope.  My Handi shot 3 rounds in about an inch at 100 yds.
I would say that that is alot better than the  1.5-2.0 inch groups at 50.
The scope was the culprit for my problems.

[quickdtoo]

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